Betcha y’all didn’t know 115

[953 nut 65,234]

April 25,1901, New York becomes the first state to require license plates on cars, using the owners’ initials instead of numbers. Motorists must make their own plates, and they do so with a variety of materials, including wood and leather.

[ri702bill 11,839]

Not WH???

[SylvanLakeWH 31,084]

Of course, accompanied with the obligatory registration fees... And, the first 27 people in line at the DMV are still waiting for their tags... 

 

[953 nut 65,234]

7 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

Of course, accompanied with the obligatory registration fees... And, the first 27 people in line at the DMV are still waiting for their tags... 

 

    As a former resident of the Empire State I can assure you that NOTHING the state does FOR its people is done for any reason other than obtaining revenue.

The FEE in 1901 was a paltry sum of $ 1.00, doesn't sound to bad until you put it in the inflation calculator and find that it becomes $ 388.48 in today's money.  

[Handy Don 16,275]

10 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

And, the first 27 people in line at the DMV are still waiting for their tags... 

The DMV gag now falls flat in NY State! Partly driven by the COVID epidemic, the DMV has dramatically overhauled its DMV with better training, specialization, systems, and management. The last three times I’ve had to go in person (routine transactions like renewals are all now available online) I was at the counter within minutes of my appointment and out of there promptly. The only downsides are that appointments are mandatory and the somewhat higher fees, but I think both were inevitable anyway. 

[ri702bill 11,839]

9 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

    As a former resident of the Empire State I can assure you that NOTHING the state does FOR its people is done for any reason other than obtaining revenue.

The FEE in 1901 was a paltry sum of $ 1.00, doesn't sound to bad until you put it in the inflation calculator and find that it becomes $ 388.48 in today's money.  

Sound about right... Here in RI, the phrase "yeah, but everybody's BIL needs a job" comes to mind.

Edited 10 hours ago by ri702bill

[Ed Kennell 45,737]

6 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

The DMV gag now falls flat in NY State! 

It's alive and well here in the PeeAaa.    Unless you know about the small unadvertised DMV office located in the rear of a private licensing service.

[953 nut 65,234]

4 minutes ago, Ed Kennell said:

small unadvertised DMV office located in the rear of a private licensing service.

That is one advantage I have in a small town like Franklin, the DMV contracts out licensing and even during Covid when only one person could be in the building at a time I had about a two minute wait time.

[ri702bill 11,839]

I had to go my local DMV Office years ago to rectify an error on my truck Registration Renewal paperwork.

There was this one infamous "State Employee" (notice that I did not refer to her as a State Worker - her major contributions to the facility were Coffee breaks & Lunch).

She had the bitter personality of a freshly lanced hemmorhoid. I was fortunate not to to get called to her station, but some other guy did. The two of them got into a heated "discussion" - he leaped over the counter and started to wail on her. Her co-workers stood back out of the way as he landed a few swings. Then the local Police showed up (local, as in two doors down the street). I don't suppose he ever finished his transaction...He probably wasn't going to be driving anytime soon anyway...

[ebinmaine 78,272]

Some neat history here:

 

 

https://www.history.com/articles/license-plate-history-invention

 

 

 

 

[Treepep 1,110]

Yeah same here as @953 nut.  Contracted out so they have employees that give a hoot.  I take the ten minutes trip to an adjacent smaller town and hit the D.M.V and a brick and mortar dirty spoon.  Good stuff.  Not good for ya.  two cars a year probably wont kill me

[Handy Don 16,275]

1 hour ago, ri702bill said:

"State Employee" (notice that I did not refer to her as a State Worker -

As part of the transformation of the DMV in New York, there were significant negotiations with the union over job classifications, performance standards, and staffing levels. I don’t know the details, but apparently there was good faith and pragmatism on both sides of the table which led to a successful contract agreement. Workers now must complete, and show competence in, specific stages of training before they are assigned to handle certain transactions. Both their demonstrated skill level and ongoing efficiency are now major factors in their compensation with seniority now a minor factor. Management also has standards they must maintain which include customer and staff satisfaction. 

Yes, it is a bit like a factory now but the upside is that employees at all levels can know both expectations and opportunities while still having some of the job security of civil service. 

[953 nut 65,234]

4 hours ago, Handy Don said:

standards they must maintain which include customer and staff satisfaction.

When my brother passed away without a will I became the administrator of his estate. I gave our cousin his car and had all of the necessary paperwork filled out and notarized by an attorney. My cousin told me he entered the DOT office anticipating a long delay and problems ahead, but said they were very nice to her and everything was handled quickly.    Sooopo, turns out those horror stories are a thing of the past.